Everyone knows it’s important to build a network. It’s one of the most important and impactful ways you can advance your startup. Many entrepreneurs know they should do it, but struggle doing it well, or prioritizing it.

And know with the current pandemic making it tough to do face-to-face meetings, maybe networking and maintaining relationships seems a bit harder and more unnatural.

To learn more about the best ways to build and maintain relationships with your network, we’re excited to chat with Stephanie Manning Cohen, Director of Platform at Lerer Hippeau.

We’ll learn why networking is an important skill to build as an entrepreneur, and best practices to expand your network, maintain your relationships, and more!

Food has been one of the fastest growing industries in recent years. Since 2015, we’ve seen food giants launch venture funds and incubation programs, and billions of dollars go toward investments in food startups.

In this boom, we’ve seen many startups arise that change our relationship with food – whether they are making it easier to get meals, creating new plant-based foods, or improving the world’s sustainability.

But there are many obstacles that food startups face, and now more than ever, many food startups are facing challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

To learn more about what it takes to build a food startup, we’re excited to chat with Peter Bodenheimer, Program Director at Food-X, the first international business accelerator program.

We’ll dive into what’s happening across the food system, and how food startups are adapting and overcoming challenges caused by COVID-19.

Entrepreneurs will go through many challenges as they build and scale their company. It takes a lot of perseverance, hard work and some luck to build a company that lasts.

Right now during this pandemic, many businesses have failed or face their toughest challenge yet as they navigate these unprecedented times.

As a founder, you may be teetering between “surviving” and “thriving”, but you can be both! You’ll find that in similar situations in the past (the .com bubble, the 2008 financial crisis), top executives have used moments like this to focus on their customers and come out ahead of their competitors.

To learn more about what it takes to succeed through challenges as an entrepreneur, and how to survive and thrive, we’re excited to speak with Isaac Oates, Founder & CEO of Justworks, the nation’s fastest-growing HR technology company.

We’re going to dive into lessons Isaac has learned growing Justworks 100x in 5 years, and his advice to entrepreneurs building startups right now.

Evolution of the CMO Role with Vimeo's Harris Beber

Traditionally, Chief Marketing Officers (CMO) were responsible for developing marketing strategies that increase brand awareness and affinity. A complex role, the position required dynamic, experienced leaders who could work across departments and disciplines to get results.

In the last few years, though, the CMO role has continued to evolve, with professionals needing to implement new digital strategies and processes, all while overseeing business growth and user experience.

Join us for a discussion with Vimeo’s CMO Harris Beber as he shares his day-to-day experiences, how his role has evolved, and what skills he thinks are most important for marketers today and in the future.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
- What does a typical day look like for a CMO?
- How has the role changed over the last few years?
- What will the role look like in the future?
- CMO vs CIO: Who's responsible for digital?
- What marketing trends are here to stay?
- What skills are most important for marketers and organizations today?

Reserve your free spot here: https://bit.ly/3ak0F9q

Join us on Thursday, August 10th, 5PM (SG time) for our GST webinar on "The GST Solvers Bot - Find Ecosystem Problems & Share Insights". GST is a global community we have organized 100+ live events and 14 webinars since the pandemic started with over 600 attendees in total.

The goal of this session is to highlight and share some of the problems tech ecosystems are facing in different regions across the world. And ask our community to share insights with those problems.!

We (GST) have been creating a bot platform for which we are putting by verticals all the interesting and quality problems that companies, startups and tech ecosystem are facing.

For this session you will be able to:

1. Learn and discover interesting problems by vertical and location-specific
2. Find interesting problems to work and ways to collaborate with other people
3. Share insights into those problems
4. Suggest new problems that you, your company or team are facing and find insights and/or solutions from our community.
5. Use our Solvers bot on telegram app and suggest problems and insights you are facing!

Agenda

5pm-6pm - Session + DEMO

=====PLEASE RSVP SO YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE HANGOUTS LINK=========

"HackerNest feels like coming home" - attendees
First timer? Expect this (...but online): hckrn.st/TS_Vid (short video)

Reception: where you land once you first join - tips & guidelines, etc.
SpeedMeets: Talk 1-on-1 with other guests, chatroulette style!
Breakout Sessions: Various smaller group discussions - Join in the first 30 mins for SuperConnect!* and help decide on which custom sessions to run!
Direct Chats & Calls: Follow-up directly with people for more conversation

►► Finally leave, exhausted from great convos with awesome people!

• Check that your Event Profile image/content is updated the way you like (also, test your links!)
• TEST your mic and speakers (support page) so your entrance is seamless!
• Close extra windows, a lean running machine speeds things up.
• Have bright lighting so your face is lit and you're not lurking in shadows.
• Tidy up - a clean, uncluttered background means less distractions!

SpeedMeet 1-on-1 Networking: Match with other guests and video call for up to 5 minutes (more if you click to extend, less if your convo ends sooner). Vibe. Share contact info with each other in one click. Roll-on to the next person thereafter; you won't match with the same person twice.

Direct Messages/Video: Chat or request a video call directly with people for interesting conversations.

Central Breakout Hangout: Take a break from 1-on-1s, hang in the common breakout room for general on-camera group conversations and chats.

• "Tech seeking Tech & Business" means you're a person with tech skills that wants to meet a cofounder with business skills, tech skills, or both
• "Business seeking Business" means you're a business-oriented cofounder looking for someone who is also business-oriented (and who doesn't necessarily have tech skills). 

• You're planning or starting a company and are looking to add key cofounders
• You're a startup looking for cofounders
• You are ideating, concepting, or ready to commit & validate your idea/business and are interested in cofounding a new startup with someone else
• You're interested in joining a new startup that's already launched

• To stand out, these virtual booths are showcased in the event listing with a custom profile image+banner; your logo (if available) also in the 'Supporters' section
• At the event, your branded booth is in the 'Expo' section and runs like a custom breakout session that your team moderates. Has its own dedicated chat thread too
• Up to 10 on-camera at a time for group conversations with more able to watch & comment in the chat
• In 1-on-1 SpeedMeets, your team matches with both technical and business guests
• Once you reserve a booth, we'll be in touch to finish setting things up

• Personality, culture, and fit matter - these are people you will be spending a lot of time with.
• Have an idea of the traits and skills you need in your ideal partner(s). Strong founding teams have complementary skill sets and tremendous amounts of trust.
• Your pitch (for your startup / idea / skills experience) is important. Practice until it's natural! 
• Meet more people - attend events (like this one!). Don't give up. Keep trying. Sometimes you find a match quickly, sometimes, it takes a while.

Entrepreneurs will go through many challenges as they build and scale their company. It takes a lot of perseverance, hard work and some luck to build a company that lasts.

Right now during this pandemic, many businesses have failed or face their toughest challenge yet as they navigate these unprecedented times.

As a founder, you may be teetering between “surviving” and “thriving”, but you can be both! You’ll find that in similar situations in the past (the .com bubble, the 2008 financial crisis), top executives have used moments like this to focus on their customers and come out ahead of their competitors.

To learn more about what it takes to succeed through challenges as an entrepreneur, and how to survive and thrive, we’re excited to speak with Isaac Oates, Founder & CEO of Justworks, the nation’s fastest-growing HR technology company.

We’re going to dive into lessons Isaac has learned growing Justworks 100x in 5 years, and his advice to entrepreneurs building startups right now.